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Each episode offers a behind-the-scenes view of production lines in food factories across Canada to find out how some of the most-popular food items are really made. Through the ingredients, techniques and required processes, this documentary series reveals how raw ingredients are turned into everyday eats.
2014
A look at how popular Halloween candy is made. Included: Kerr's Molasses Kisses; and ghoulish bubblegum treats.
A look at how certain Halloween treats are made, including chocolate witches and spooky marshmallow pops.
From raw materials to finished products, FOOD FACTORY goes behind the scenes to reveal how our favourite foods are made: The tumbling room of a jawbreaker factory sounds like a jet engine; at Tim Hortons' mammoth roasting facility, super-sized grinders tackle thousands of pounds of beans every hour; 30,000 savory empanadas are made from a single batch; and, the history of cocktail sauce is as zesty as its flavour.
FOOD FACTORY goes behind the scenes to reveal how our favourite foods are made: Learn the age-old technique that packs the pistachio punch into every bite of baklava; watch as high-tech machines create 150 pounds of candy buttons per hour; a single batch of organic baby food fills 28,000 gourmet pouches; and, while feta cheese starts with a truckload of fresh sheep's milk, its origins date back to ancient Greece.
2012
Discover how Campbell's spells out the letters for perfect soup; why Razzles need a lot of pressure to become sweet candy gum; how beer becomes fine Canadian whiskey; and why dry ice is crucial to making sweet and sticky brioche.
Spanikopita; ginger snaps; tartufo; apple juice
Chewy granola bars; BBQ vegetable medleys; blue cheese; rice cakes
Ice cream cones; sodapop; pasta; chewing gum
Discover how cool coils are essential to the tastiest cold smoked salmon; how special cups give a new spin to age-old yogurt; how 1000 kg of ravioli are made daily; and how making 3 million pounds of fresh salad can actually be easy.
Refined sugar; apple danishes; eggs; tortillas
Vodka mixers; Italian pizzelle cookies; Buffalo wings; super caramel crunch cake.
Pureed buttercup soup; aerosol whipped cream; lollipops; crab sticks.
Crunchy chips; fav gulab jumun; almond biscotti; tofu
Croissants; rhubarb strawberry jam; cranberry and orange stuffing; tomato sauce.
Premium toffee; vegan-friendly pesto; high-quality coffee; ice rocket lollipops
Discover how stuffed olives get from branch to jar; 12,000 plates of tortellini are made per day; how local ingredients make cranberry pumpkin-seed baguettini; and the exact moment when culture has to be added to make yogurt drinks!
Discover just how many cheesecakes 15 tons of cream cheese will make; how to make 500,000 perogies a day; why for ice cream sandwiches, human touch is crucial; and what 1 million jars of marmalade and Formula One racing have in common
Discover how 15 metric tonnes of goat cheese get made weekly; why a team of experts make 8000 strawberry shortcakes a week; what magnets have to do with grinding huge amounts of wheat; and how to pickle 15,000 kg of herring a day.
Discover how 32,000 bagels are made in eight hours; how one company mass produces airplane food always ready for take off; why berries are essential to make Sun Chips(TM); and how organic carrots can make a vegan dessert.
Discover how 15 billion tablets of candy are made; what the secret ingredient is in Pilsener beer; how a modern update of Ancient Egyptian technology allows for the union of blueberries and chocolate; and King Cole's roast duck.
Discover how Freezies stay fresh for 820 days; how moisture levels are achieved to make parmesan cheese; why ripe bananas make banana chocolate chip bars; and how 600,000 loaves of calabrese bread per year are made into crostini!
Discover how the world's best spuds make it to the dinner plate; why gumballs travel through the twilight zone to become perfectly shaped; how far hot chocolate has come since the Aztecs invented it; and the secret barbecue ribs at home.
Discover how addictive roasted peanuts, creamy mango smoothies, full fat bocconcini cheese, and decadent vegan brownies gets to the masses.
Blueberry cream cheese bagels; pot roast; spring water; lemon mousse cakes.
Frozen pizza; spreadable butter; organic mushrooms; mini quiche florentine.
Discover how 9.7 billion cups of yogurt are made every year; how to make trail mix; why less mixing makes more tasty organic baby cookies; and why timing is everything when making mushroom rice veggie burgers
Discover what it takes to harvest 600,000 rainbow trout each year; why an oil shower creates roasted cashews; how one apple slicing machine is a life-saver to bakers across the country; and the secrets to producing peameal bacon.
Discover how the sandwich staple Wonderbread is made; how nutty pecans are transformed into pralines; how to make a perfectly balanced Morroccan harira vegan soup; and how stainless steel plates ensure the most crystal clear bagged ice!
Discover why free-range cows raised without pesticide produces the tastiest milk; why dried chick peas love a hot steam; how a samosa machine guarantees the tastiest Indian pouches; and how 250,000 creamy mini éclairs get made per day
Discover why a hot house is essential to growing the sweetest tomatoes; how a 130 foot tunnel oven makes perfect muffins; the secret recipe for Breathsavers(TM) candy; and how today's machines can make the best gnocchi in only ten minutes!
2013
Discover how sweet, crispy waffle cones get their ice cream-ready shape; rich, dark chocolate milk is transformed from creamy to dreamy; tangy Doritos nachos go from kernel to crunchy chip; and how the special ingredient in cheesy Indian dessert Kesar Rasmalai could break the bank.
Discover how gooey glazed donuts get blasted by an icing waterfall, while ice cream bars are given a chocolate bath; why health-conscious Korean astronauts take pickled kimchi into outer space; and the lengths that salt miners will go to to put "white gold" on people's plates.
Discover how modern technology has transformed the way traditional Indian flatbread is baked; crunchy cheesy puffs get a flavour as bright as their neon colour; cream filled cookies get that distinctly Canadian taste and shape; and decadent chocolates are filled with the luck o' the Irish.
Discover how spicy salsa gets its peppery kick; a tangy ancient cheese once made by monks gets a modern makeover; crunchy fortune cookies come sweet, tasty and packed full of good advice; and a popular summertime snack gets stuffed with ice creamy coolness.
Discover how zesty mustard gets its vibrant colour; luxurious orange creams come filled with a double hit of sweet and tart; nutty granola bars are jam packed with exotic ingredients; and what exactly goes into Tootsie Rolls to give them that old-school chewy texture.
Discover how cool and refreshing frozen yogurt gets its dizzying layers of crunchy toffee and peanut butter swirl; the origin of crispy spring rolls and what really goes into plum sauce; Purdy's rich and gooey Sweet Georgia Browns get their mouthwatering salty sweet balance; and double-the-pleasure brie gets its fuzzy white coat and creamy goodness.
Discover how classic Tootsie Pops get that chewy reward in the middle; sweet and tangy ketchup contains all of the five taste sensations; a traditional Italian dessert, tiramisu, actually gets its pillowy texture from crunchy biscuits; and why salty, doughy pretzels get all twisted.
Discover how many spices go into richly aromatic tikka masala, and why it's Britain's favourite meal; sweet and sour gummy worms get their mouth-puckering flavour; crunchy golden tortillas stay intact until they're stuffed full of Mexican treats on taco night; and seasonal Easter crème eggs get that yummy and yolky egg-like filling.
Discover how crispy, cheesy pizza goes from simple slice to portable pocket; refreshing ginger beer gets that sweet and spicy pop; powdered sugar is pressure packed into tangy tart double flavour lollipops; and addictive chocolate toffee nut clusters get their bite-sized crunchy shapes.
Discover how peppermint puffs get their light and airy texture while packing a spicy blast; flaky cheese straws get that perfect twist of buttery cheddar and crunchy pastry; cool and fruity mango chutney is the Indian condiment used as ketchup, relish and mustard all at once; and iconic love hearts are embossed with those catchy sweet nothings.
Discover how sweet and sugary Mike and Ike candies get their chewy centres and shiny shells; rich and cheesy shredded mozzarella is made just right for nacho night; cool and refreshing Arizona iced green tea gets the same smooth, healthy taste in every can; and how banana-flavoured Turkish Taffy comes out crunchy yet soft and stretchy at the same time.
Discover how decadent peanut butter chocolate bonbons from Waggoner are made to resemble the lucky buckeye nut; the noodles in slurp-worthy instant Japanese ramen soup get their signature curly shape; Amazing Dad's barbecue sauce gets it's much buzzed-about sweet and tangy flavour; and a rich, coconut-infused marshmallow chocolate cup gets its sinfully fluffy centre.
Discover how the makers of madras sambar, an ancient Indian vegetable stew, manage to fit an entire aromatic meal into a small can; the surprisingly sumptuous combo of lemony chocolate and cottage cheese is molded into Moo Moo bars, a modern update of a frozen Russian treat; CheeChas, a crunchy Mexican-inspired chip is puffed up from pasta; and classic sugary American gumdrops get their chewy texture.
Discover how irresistibly flaky sausage rolls were formerly a snack fit for just a king; fluffy, sugary Peeps marshmallows come out looking like adorable baby chicks; bright colored Candy Tree lollipops get their sweet and sour flavor; and a Middle Eastern staple, pita, gets puffed up into a crunchy, zesty bite-sized snack.
Discover how smooth caramel and milky chocolate combine with scrumptious pretzels to produce a perfect salty sweet snack; the makers of Jelly Bellys get those mouth-watering flavours into their jellybeans; lip-smacking Korean dumplings are jam-packed with savory spices and healthy veggies; and meaty, finger-licking Cornish pasties get their signature shape from an underground connection.
Discover how sweet and crunchy Boston Baked Beans are made to be the candy version of a traditional side dish; the tangy strawberry filling in a Welch's fruit yogurt snack receives a creamy coating; brocato, a decadently cheesy Scottish breakfast pie, gets its signature stand up pastry shell; and Kerr's infuses their irresistible peppermint chocolate candies with an authentically spicy flavour.
Discover how the makers of doubly delicious "Tortetufo" get one chocolate praline mousse cake inside another; plain chick peas are transformed into yummy boondi, a spicy, crunchy Indian snack; sinfully tender, frosted sugar cookies come out of the oven a technicolor treat; and mouthwateringly flaky, aromatic Greek spanakopita is spun into a modern spinach pie twisted up in phyllo pastry.
Discover how Amy's Kitchen wraps up their scrumptious rice and pinto bean burritos; an Oregon-based company adds a double shot of bacon to lip smacking fried rice that never meets the fryer; sweet little Maraschino cherries get their signature colour; and the makers of classic Abba-Zaba candy bars get that perfect combo of chewy taffy and creamy peanut butter.
Discover how old world flavour is lovingly baked into rustic and crusty Baltic dark rye bread; sweet and chewy Duo cookies cater to the tastes of chocolate and vanilla lovers alike; tangy Japanese ginger carrot dressing complements Western as well as Asian dishes; and fluffy, crunchy, chocolaty Rocky Road bars are carefully built on a sumptuous bed of creamy marshmallow.
Discover how humble rice and sugar are transformed into a gooey, crunchy marshmallow bar topped with rainbow-coloured chocolate chips; the root, stem and flowery part of a Japanese plant are pureed into a delicate but very spicy sidekick to sushi; meatless deli magicians, Tofurky, turn soy milk into mouthwateringly aromatic Italian veggie sausages; and, how many microscopic layers are baked into the flaky dough of a sinfully moist and tender Mini Choco bun.
Discover how crispy, lip-smacking Kettle potato chips are specially crinkled for maximum dipping power; sweet, melt-in-your-mouth meringue cookies get their delicate texture in an unconventional oven; chewy oat flax dough and country-style strawberry jam join forces to produce an omega-rich, delicious and nutritious snack; and the makers of savoury Mediterranean flatbread bake an extra snappy, super crunch into each bite.
Discover how an aromatic blend of exotic spices is packed into pakoras, a mouthwatering, deep-fried Indian fritter; the bakers of decadently custardy Napoleon bars fold thousands of tiny layers into flaky French pastry; fiery jalapeno peppers are added to a creamy, nutty hummus; and bold sea salt enhances the sinfully sweet flavor of irresistible caramel to produce a presidential bonbon.
Discover how roasted eggplants are transformed into rich and yummy baba ghanoush; apple strudel is hand braided into a flaky, buttery treat; creamy ranch dressing gets its distinctively tangy flavour; and soft, sweet and chewy chocolate chip cookies are produced in big enough quantities to satisfy the demand for bedtime snacks everywhere.
Chocolate-cherry cordials; mulled apple cider; four-bean medley; and turtle cheesecake.
Discover how festive eggnog gets its rich and creamy, soothing texture; pre-assembled gingerbread houses are built on a spicy foundation of aromatic dough and icing; sweet and luxurious milk chocolate is painstakingly formed into flavorful hollow chocolate Santas; and fruity, nutty, dense traditional Christmas cake is infused with a round of holiday cheer.
Discover how only a few simple ingredients produce the complex flavour of crumbly, buttery Scottish shortbread; moist cake and creamy mousse are rolled into Yule logs, a decadent holiday dessert; a secret ingredient is the crunch in a sweet and minty chocolate bark; and the iconic hook of a candy cane is the finishing touch on a classic stocking stuffer.
2016
Food Factory fires up the grill for a special Backyard BBQ episode: Cattle BoyZ chipotle maple bacon barbecue sauce packs a signature gourmet kick
Food Factory celebrates Thanksgiving with four holiday favourites: It takes mountains of dough to keep up with demand for Pepperidge Farms' stuffing.
The Big Game episode of Food Factory serves up the perfect tailgate party menu: chocolate pizza and peanut butter wings; TGI Friday’s Jalapeno Poppers.
The Halloween episode of Food Factory goes trick-or-treating for candy corn at Jelly Belly; sucks on creepy lollipops come in barf, blood, and booger flavours.
2015
This all-American candy company makes 200,000 packages of red licorice every day; this zippy mayonnaise packs the punch of spicy Sriracha; 40,000 Turkish bourekas are produced here every day; and, Laceys feature a chocolate centre sandwiched between two wafer-thin cookies.
2014
An irresistible combination of caramel, chocolate, and butter pecan, discover the tantalizing secrets of the ice cream you serve like a cake; named after a people who were part of Genghis Khan's famous army, tangy tartar sauce was given a gourmet twist in the 1970s, and is perfected daily; it takes plenty of icing, slabs of cake, and a machine called the 'encruster' to make a single batch of 2,700 bite-size cake pops; and, a special roasting oven and Dead Sea salt give artisanal almonds their signature crunch.
1.8 million cherry chews are produced from just one single batch; massive silos of wheat are transformed into ‘elbow’ macaroni pasta; this continental cranberry cheesecake first started as a Christmas experiment; and, meet chakri.
Meet the worker bees who transform raw honey into liquid gold; this California bakery turns out 50,000 loaves of sprouted wheat bread every day; meet the cookie doctor behind this unique checkerboard creation
A humble sunflower seed is at the heart of every rainbow-coloured Sunburst candy; this rice vinegar packs a karate kick of flavour; get a tangy taste of Thailand without leaving home.
There’s a waterfall of chocolate at this California candy factory; meet the saucy squad behind mountains of cannelloni; find out what it takes to make rice noodles by the truckload
From tree to bottle, follow the amazing story of maple syrup; there’s a ‘tower of power’ behind this delectable Almond Roca® butter toffee popcorn; this British Columbia candy company is giving Turkish Delight a thoroughly modern twist
It takes 80,000 apples to produce a single batch of fruit leather; discover the secret to making squeaky and addictive cheese curds; inspired by Broadway, Hello Dolly bars are getting a vegan encore
Visit the amazing chocolate factory behind these exotic truffles; these eco-friendly coffee pods combine guilt-free caffeine with all the convenience; 250,000 gyoza dumplings roll of this assembly line every day
A single sturgeon can produce a bowl of sustainable caviar worth $12,000; this shepherd’s pie puts a modern twist on Mom’s classic recipe; this family business rolls out nine million risotto balls every year.
Find out how the cheese met the peanut butter in this legendary sandwich snack; get the scoop on these two-toned frozen fruit bars from Florida; 1.5 million blueberry dumplings are produced in just one shift
These melt-in-your-mouth chocolate mints are lovingly finished by hand; in this unique antipasto, the star ingredient goes from field to jar all on the same day
These peanut butter cups feature an amazing history and a one-of-a-kind butterscotch coating; starting with giant slabs of butter, three million Sara Lee pound cakes are produced every year.
This eco-minded breakfast cereal gives back to the iconic birds for which it is named; these artisan chocolatiers turn liquid into luscious raspberry creams.
Five million of these iconic throat drops are produced every day; it took dozens of tries to perfect these gluten-free veggie pockets; the recipe for these peanut butter chocolates is top secret.
Visit the historic Michigan home of Alphabits cereal; the secret to this jet-black fettuccine is 3 litres of squid ink per batch; every jar of this zesty garden mix is artfully packed by hand.
Once discontinued, the strawberry cheesecake frozen treat is back by popular demand; find out the secret to these irresistible sea salt caramels.
10,000 of these fruit goodies are produced every minute; find out what it takes to make 100 million pieces of sushi every year; these small-batch bitters are guaranteed to put an extra kick in your cocktail.
Find out what makes these flavoured chips distinctly Canadian; Pal-o-Mine candy bars first debuted in 1920 and the winning recipe hasn’t changed since.
Hundreds of gourmet BLT sandwiches are on the line as food workers deal with badly burned brioche buns, no-show bacon & tomatoes that are still green on the vine.
A family-run bakery prepares a huge order for a prestigious hotel chain; an unsatisfactory taste test forces the producers of organic, cold-pressed juice to start over.
A toronto team prepares thousand so meals for preschoolers; a bakery bakes carrot cakes for passengers on a New York City brunch cruise.
Ohio taco artists prepare food for a thousand people; Toronto bakers make a signature desert for a ladies' golf club.
A Las Vegas bakery works overnight to finish several wedding cakes; in Ontario, a catering company feeds hundreds of athletes.
A crew of Cape Cod fishermen struggle to fill a hefy fish order from Harvard University; Ontario farmers scour their fields for fresh ingredients with flashlights.
A Louisiana fishing boat faces mechanical breakdowns; a Toronto catering company struggles to prepare thousands of meals for travelers.
Bakers make 440 birthday cakes for a celebration at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs; an overnight crew prepares for 250 gourmet meals.
The process of making instant ready-to-blend fruit smoothies is so cool that it takes a river of liquid nitrogen to make it happen; find out how raw organic cocoa beans are turned into luscious salted almond chocolate bars; delicious paneer isn't just the most popular cheese in southeast Asia, it doesn't melt when it's cooked; and, with a killer combination of kick, wasabi horseradish mustard features a spicy family story that only science can explain.
Featuring shredded coconut, toasted almonds, and rum, this Caribbean-inspired candy bar takes a trip through a chocolate waterfall; it takes three kilograms of rosemary, six kilograms of roasted garlic, and 100 kilograms of corn meal to produce a single batch of irresistible polenta crisps; sprinkled with walnuts and glazed by hand, every maple-flavoured Danish is a patriotic pastry that's packed with a magical filling; and, laced with butter and parmesan, Alfredo risotto is so popular that more than 25 million boxes of it are produced every year.
Two fun-loving brothers have put an organic spin on the classic cheese twist, and their high-tech assembly line includes a video system that scans for defective curls; if you've got a hankering for bite-size mint chocolate patties, the good news is that millions of them roll off the assembly line every day; it takes 200 litres of vodka every month to help put the zing in a buttery bacon-scented tomato sauce; and, the surprising thing about high-end chili powder is that it contains seven spices harvested from the four corners of the globe.
It takes 1.5 million kilograms of strawberry sauce to satisfy the annual demand for strawberry shortcake ice cream; hundreds of delectable tacitos are hand-rolled every minute, and if you want to join the assembly line, it'll take you three months to get up to speed; with gallons of chocolaty fluff and just minutes on the clock, making marshmallows is a race against time; and, after a massive shredder cuts the vegetables down to size, broccoli slaw is washed twice before hitting the spin cycle.
The surprising thing about this protein-packed breakfast cereal is that it's made from navy beans, lentils, garbanzo beans, and brown rice; a love for soda pop was the inspiration for an artisanal cream soda that delivers a flavour high without the sugar rush; the recipe for vegan mayonnaise came to its creator in a dream, and a 24-hour production cycle means a whopping annual yield of 4 million kilograms; and, steeped in Spanish history, a quarter of a million churros are dusted with cinnamon and flash-fried to perfection every day.
If you've got a serious hankering for chocolate, head to the state-of-the-art factory that produces 1.5 billion truffles a year; packed with veggies, bananas, and heaps of chocolate chips, meet the guilt- and gluten-free muffin that's as satisfying as it is healthy; retro Hot Tamales are North America's number one cinnamon flavored candy, and 73 million of them are produced every day; and, layers of buttery pastry dough and two tangy cheeses are the secret to light and flaky gourmet cheese crisps.
Complete with holiday stuffing in the centre, Tofurky is a hearty vegetarian alternative to Thanksgiving roast turkey; two best friends have put their passion for healthy eating into making tasty and nutritious snack bars that are guilt-free and packed with energy; it's arguably the most famous kiddie cocktail ever, and the good news for fans is that 1.5 million cans of Shirley Temple soda are produced daily; and, these one-bite snacks combine three generations of love with crunchy almonds, tangy cranberries, and decadent white chocolate.
A Florida factory that produces orange juice; a family-run business that turns out 2.5 million balls of pizza dough; bite-size cream puffs rolling off a California assembly line; and the makers of flavorful chewy candies.
"Food Factory turns up the heat with a legendary hot sauce, a century-old cereal,
